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Our founders have a combined 60 years of experience working with fine wine,
including all roles related to management, sourcing, sales, and client development.

We are long-time wine collectors who have also enjoyed careers in
investment, finance, and technology.

As a Wine Buyer and Senior Wine Advisor, Paul works directly with all of Courtier’s suppliers and clients across all areas of the business.

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Paul Jones
Founder

As Chief Financial Officer and Wine Advisor, Mark’s role at Courtier is to manage the company’s finances and share his love and knowledge of wine with clients.

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Mark Royer
Founder

As a founder of Courtier, Ryan’s role as a Wine Advisor supports both the sourcing and sales teams, allowing him to work with all of company’s suppliers and clients across many areas of the business.

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Ryan Douvlos
Wine Advisor

With a distinguished career in providing exceptional customer service, Amy works closely with Courtier’s corporate partners and clients as a Wine Services Coordinator.

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Amy Thurston
Wine Services

Michael leads the Courtier sourcing and sales teams as a Wine Buyer and Senior Wine Advisor, working directly with all of the company’s suppliers, clients and partners.

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Michael Glasby
Founder

As a Senior Wine Advisor and Sommelier, Taylor works with Courtier’s clients on event planning, rare wine dinners and tours to Burgundy, including private tastings at top domaines.”

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Taylor Smith
Senior Wine Advisor

Daphne’s insatiable curiosity for wine has taken her all over the world, from Europe to South America. As a Wine Advisor, she works directly with all of Courtier’s clients and partners.

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Daphne Feng
Wine Advisor

Paul oversees all aspects of Courtier’s sourcing and sales teams as a Senior Wine Advisor and Wine Buyer, having many long-time relationships with collectors, vintners and members of the trade.

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Paul Costigan
Founder
Andy Frieden
Senior Wine Advisor

As a Wine Services Coordinator, Kate lends a personal touch to customer service while working closely with all of Courtier’s clients and partners.

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Kate Francies
Wine Services

Chris has nearly 20 years of experience working as an investor, an officer, and an attorney with a variety of companies.

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Christopher A. Patz
Advisor

Loring’s decades of experience in building successful businesses and public organizations from the ground-up is rooted in his deep passion for art, architecture, design and community.

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Loring Sagan
Advisor

Tom has been an enthusiastic collector and consumer of fine wines for 30 years and has enjoyed many trips to his favorite wine regions.

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Thomas R. Brown
Advisor

Matt developed an interest in wine early in his career, and is an avid collector – he enjoys learning more about old wines while sharing treasures from his cellar with fellow enthusiasts.

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Matt Kelso
Advisor

Margherita’s refined taste and appreciation for design and quality are on display in her cuisine, personl style and ability to inspire others.

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Margherita Sagan
Advisor

Following an academic career which included teaching at UCLA and UC Davis, Michael has been involved in the wine business in the Napa Valley since 1983.

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Michael Havens
Advisor
Andy Frieden

Andy’s passion for wine began while working at an Italian restaurant in San Francisco. A trip to Tuscany to visit his family’s olive oil estate then sparked an interest that led him to the Napa Valley and a new career in wine.

Having worked for various merchants and distributors over the years, he’s had the pleasure to travel throughout France, Germany and Spain, visiting wine regions and tasting extensively.

As a fine wine specialist, Andy has attended the Bordeaux en primeur tastings for many important vintage releases, where he’s developed friendships with some of the region’s most celebrated vintners and winemakers.

With his years of experience and knowledge of fine wines, Andy offers a generous approach to educating and assisting clients with their cellar plans and collecting goals. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, tennis and practicing his culinary skills.

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Taylor Smith

While still at the university, Taylor supplemented his academic studies by working at several top restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. His developing interest and thirst for knowledge was met with a taste of a legendary fine wine, Domaine de la Romanee Conti La Tache 1966, and from there he was hooked.

After graduation, he moved to the Rhone Valley in France and began seeking out connections with local producers while learning the language and the wines of the region. Following a year abroad, he returned to California to accept a position at the famed Ridge Vineyards in their Monte Bello Estate hospitality program, which offered an opportunity to further hone his skills as a sommelier.

Now having earned one-, two- and three-Michelin stars with distinctive Wine Spectator Grand Award winning restaurant wine lists, Taylor now works to maintain one of the most recognized Burgundy fine wine programs in the nation at RN74 in San Francisco.

When he isn’t entertaining guests and clients over dinner, he’s likely to be exploring the back roads of France in search of undiscovered producers and up-and-coming winemakers, visiting domaines and friends in Burgundy and seeking out the next thrilling wine experience.

 

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